The President of the Australian Senate, Senator Scott Ryan, is paying an official visit to Vietnam from January 20 to 23 at the invitation of National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

In Hanoi, Senator Ryan held bilateral talks with Ms. Ngan to discuss issues including strengthening parliamentary cooperation, reviewing Australian support for economic development in Vietnam, improving people-to-people links between Australia and Vietnam, and the potential for strengthened regional cooperation.

The visit also reflects a strong history of parliamentary engagement between Australia and Vietnam, and follows Ms. Ngan’s visit to Australia in November 2017 and the visit by the Speaker of Australian House of Representatives, Mr. Tony Smith, to Vietnam last July.

In the course of his visit, Senator Ryan will also meet General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and State President Nguyen Phu Trong, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and Chairman of the Vietnam-Australia Parliamentary Friendship Group, Mr. Nguyen Hanh Phuc.

In addition to his official meetings, Senator Ryan will also take the opportunity to meet with Australian businesses, Australian New Colombo Plan students, and Australian volunteers in Hanoi. He will visit the Hanoi KOTO Training Center, a social enterprise founded by Australian Jimmy Pham that trains at-risk youth in hospitality skills.

Following the 45th anniversary of relations and their upgrading to a Strategic Partnership in 2018, Senator Ryan’s visit provides an opportunity to further strengthen the positive and diverse bilateral relationship between Australia and Vietnam.